Why You Should Check Out Our New Spring Designs

The new spring designs over in the Machelle Kolbo Design Studio Etsy Shop are a collection I am very excited about. I approached this collection knowing that I wanted a core group of products that were intentionally designed and created to complement the other items available. Read on to find out why I felt like this was important. 

One of the things I realized after one year of business was that I had gotten a little scattered in what I had available. I love all of what I created last year, but if I'm being real I don't know if it was all cohesive or a representation of the heart behind my business. I still love it all and believe in the quality of those designs. 

As I thought through my new designs I knew I wanted them to be intentional. My designs needed to encompass some elements of faith, as well as elements that would encourage and love customers. This also means I wanted to design items that would assist customers in loving and encouraging those around them.

What came out of that intentional design process is a collection of art prints, cards and journals that I am very proud of. It is my strong desire that these products in some small way can be an encouragement to you all. I love that I get the opportunity to enter your home and life through paper goods, design and lettering. 

Check out the photos below for a sampling of our new spring designs available over on Etsy! Don't forget if you are local and would like to arrange to pick up your items you can use the code LNKNE2016 at checkout to remove shipping costs.

Beloved Art Print // Hand Lettered Print + Watercolor Flowers

Hand Lettered 'Be Still and Know' Print // Inspired by Psalm 46:10

Watercolor Thank You Cards // Created to easily send thanks!

Sweet Floral Cards // Set of 8 cards with envelopes - perfect for snail mail!

There are also some great stories about the inspiration behind individual products. Check out these past posts for more of the heart behind specific products. 

• Story: Welcome Home My Love Print
• Men's Dwell Deeply Journals
• Dwell Deeply Journals

This spring collection is fairly small, but we are excited to add to it intentionally throughout the year! Enjoy!

INTRODUCING: MEN'S DWELL DEEPLY JOURNAL

We are excited to announce that we now offer a Men's Dwell Deeply Journal! After personally using the women's Dwell Deeply Journal, and letting my husband Alex use one as well (he tried to make it a little less feminine), it became apparent that there was a real need for a similar men's journal! 

So why did we think this was so important to create? Read on for some thoughts from Alex on the creation of the men's version. 

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Hey - Alex here - when Machelle launched the women's version of the Dwell Deeply journal it was exciting to watch women around her use these journals to process truth. I also loved watching how it was helping her process, and grow more consistent in quiet times and prayer. So, one day I asked if I could use one of the journals. So, I did. I loved it, but she designed them to be more feminine. I took the liberty to make some adjustments to the one I was using to give it cleaner lines and a more geometric feel.

The more I used the journal the more I saw how it was leading me to become more disciplined in my quiet time, but still giving me freedom to study anything. I also found that because I was writing things down and sketching them out they stuck in my mind more. This allowed me to recall things more easily and then share it with others. This recall was especially helpful for the areas of my life where I am leading others. 

Another cool thing was that Machelle and I were processing scripture, and writing prayer requests in a similar way. It gave us a great way to share truth and scripture with each other. Even though we would be studying different things we could encourage each other and share how we felt different scripture applied to our lives and specific situations. So, I wanted to create a men's version so that husbands and wives, or families could be processing scripture in a similar way. 

Most of all, I saw how this journal was helping Machelle with her quiet time, and I wanted that. Not only did I want it for myself, but for other men as well. So, we talked about the need for a men's journal, and I was enlisted to create the cover lettering, and inside lettering/graphics. 

Overall, the bones of the journal is the same. If you have used a women's journal all the sections are there. I just created graphics and different wording to make the journal less feminine and give a more gender neutral option for men. 

I hope you will take a look at the men's journal, and give it a try. My prayer is that this would help you be more disciplined in your quiet time, and ultimately help God's truth dwell in all areas of your life. 

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Like Alex said, we are super excited to have these Men's Dwell Deeply Journals available! It has been such a cool way for us to process and share with each other. We created because we know sometimes you need a way to process what you are reading, or don't know where to begin with a quiet time. Interested? Check them out HERE. 

The Story Behind the "Welcome Home My Love" Print

One of my goals for Machelle Kolbo Design Studio is to love and encourage people. Whether you read the blog, follow on Instagram, or stumble upon my Etsy shop, I want you in some small way to be encouraged. Many of the products I added this year were created with intentionality and have special meaning, or a fun story attached. So, today I will share with you the story behind our "Welcome Home My Love" Print. 

First, a little back story about me and my husband. When we were dating Alex, and I would frequently leave post - it notes hidden for each other with a funny message or encouragement. Leaving notes for each other was always something we did, and on occasion we still do. 

About a year into our marriage, I left on a trip or was gone for a couple days (I can't remember exactly what it was). When I returned home I found a note (pictured below) taped to the door lovingly drawn and lettered by my sweet husband. 

Since then, the note has been hanging in our kitchen where we both can see it. It is usually one of the first things I see when I walk in the door ( after greeting our golden retriever - of course). What I love about this note is how it welcomes and loves me. I'm always reminded of the love that lives in our home. 

So, when I was dreaming up a new line of prints for my Etsy shop I knew I wanted to bring Alex's handiwork to everyone. My vision is that this print can hang in your entry way, mudroom, or somewhere that will welcome your guests and family as soon as they step in the door. That way - even if you welcoming them home is less than awesome (let's be real it happens sometimes) this print can convey how you truly feel. 

My hope is that this print can love and encourage you, and whoever sees it when they enter your home. It is a small way to set the tone for how people are received, and welcomed. 

Interested in the "Welcome Home My Love" Print? Great! Click the button below. 

Stay tuned for more stories of the inspiration behind our prints + products.  

Kolbo Alphabet Challenge M-R

It's been awhile, and the challenge is officially done on Instagram. I still like seeing these letters together, so for your viewing pleasure here is the next group of letters from our Kolbo Alphabet Challenge. If you want to see more you can check out letters A-F here or G-L here OR take a look on Instagram! 

If you are not sure what I am talking about, the #KolboAlphabetChallenge is something that Alex (my husband) and I decided to do for fun and to challenge ourselves creatively. We also invited others to join in! 

Below you will find letters M-R that Alex and I created/made/drew. Enjoy!

My Simple Method for Recording Answered Prayers

Recording answered prayers (and prayer requests) is such a sweet and simple reminder of God's faithfulness. It gives us a tangible way to read through specifically what He has done in our lives. Today, I want to share with you my simple method for recording answered prayers, using the Dwell Deeply Journal.

When I created the Dwell Deeply Journals, I added a page at the very back for answered prayers. To be honest, I thought it was a nice addition, but did not think it would become one of my favorite parts of the journal.

When I first started using the journals I didn't reference the answered prayer page, as it is the last page in the journal. I would use the prompts to help me dig deep into the scripture I was reading, write down what I was thankful, and record and pray over prayer requests. The journal has content pages for 31 days. So, after a little over a month I was done with my first journal. It was then that I saw the answered prayer page. I decided to go back through and read the prayer requests from the past month or so, and see if there was anything I could record on the answered prayers page. As I read through all the prayer requests I had recorded I was BLOWN AWAY by how God had answered those prayers - and how quickly I had forgotten his faithfulness. After pouring over all the prayer requests I was able to record numerous answered prayers, and had a heart FULL of gratitude. 

I was already intrigued by the concept of writing out prayers and answered prayers after watching the movie War Room. When I actually put it into practice myself that is when I really saw the power of it had. (Also if you haven't read this book - you should!)

So, my simple method is this: record your prayer requests for a month, and at the end of that month read through them and record all your answered prayers. I promise you will be blown away by God's faithfulness, and be able to see the unique ways he answered those prayers. Now, I'm not saying that all those answered prayers will be God saying "Yes". Recording our prayers and looking back over them may give us a new perspective of His bigger plan that is so much better than our own. 

To get started you can simply record your prayer requests and answered prayers in a journal, or on paper. Personally I would recommend grabbing one of the Dwell Deeply Journals so you can have your quiet times, prayer requests and answered prayers all in one spot!

Take some time this month to write out your prayers to God. Plan a time in the future, a month or two out when you will look over those prayers and record your answered prayers. My prayer is that this would cultivate gratitude, and trust in God's bigger plan for your life. I hope this post has encouraged you to consider taking simple steps to look for the answered prayers in your own life. 

Want to learn more about the Dwell Deeply Journals? Check out my post introducing them!

Also, Dwell Deeply Journals are available to purchase here: mkolbodesignstudio.etsy.com